Everyone at First Dunes has spent at least 10 years working closely together to make sure our distinctive homes are impeccably crafted down to the smallest detail. We treat each other like family and will do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy.
Harvey Gessin
Founder
As the founder of Chatham Development Company and First Dunes, Harvey has directed the acquisition, development, design and construction of more than 1,500 luxury residences across Long Island, including the first million-dollar home in Westhampton Dunes.
Recipe for Success:
“I love my work. I build homes for myself because I know if I love them, so will our customers. I aim to completely satisfy 97% of our client base, because I know 3% will never be happy no matter what we do.”
Most Rewarding Part of His Job:
“The creativity it requires. Every project and structure is unique, and we’re always coming up with new products and ideas to make each one better than the last.”
Proudest Accomplishment:
“We’ve kept this a close, family-oriented business and have weathered many storms in the economy unscarred. Like our homes, we’re built to last because we play off each other’s strengths and cover for our weaknesses. And we have a good time doing it.”
My friends kid me about…:
“Never sleeping. I’ll send them texts or emails any hour of the day. But they also know they can call me day or night if they’re in trouble and I’ll be there in 15 seconds with a solution to their problem.”
Personal Stuff:
- Married with three children: Kyla, Chad and Joshua.
- His two passions outside of work are boating (he’s traveled all along the East Coast since he was 21) and car collecting (currently 10 cars, including a ’57 Thunderbird, a ’61 Corvette and a ’68 Ford Mustang).
- Harvey and his wife Marilyn, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, also are active supporters of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and have been to Auschwitz Birkenau and other concentration camps. “It was so touching. We must stay vigilant because this can happen to any group of people anywhere in the world.”
Chad Gessin
Partner, Director of Design and Construction
Chad’s first job was applying foam air sealing on the underside of homes at Westhampton Dunes. He’s been a general contractor on major ground-up construction projects and is involved in every aspect of First Dunes’ operations, from budgeting and buying products to ensuring quality construction and being the main point of contact for customers.
Most Rewarding Part of His Job:
“I love the whole process, starting with a blank piece of paper and then handling all the details and problems you encounter each day. Ever since I was a child helping my dad disassemble his car engines I’ve been interested in how things work.”
Favorite Moments:
“When I go back to a home after it’s been lived in for a few years. I like to hear from the customers what worked well and what didn’t and learn how we can make things better.”
Proudest Accomplishment:
“How our houses withstand the test of time. Even those we built in the 90s still look fresh and beautiful.”
My friends kid me about…:
“How much I love to talk and explain everything down to the smallest detail. They say I seem to know everything about everything.”
Personal Stuff:
“Married and lives in Brooklyn. Takes his golden retriever, Aldous, to work and plays with him in Moriches Bay. He’s a serious foodie who enjoys cooking and riding road and mountain bikes.
Kyla Gessin
Partner, Director of Marketing
Coming Soon
Joe Lamberti
Superintendent of Construction
Joe’s seen and done it all in more than 40 years of building homes, the last 20 or so with teams from Chatham and First Dunes.
A Typical Workday:
“Arranging schedules, working with contractors, reading blueprints, helping on the design of new homes, troubleshooting, meeting with customers and thinking about “a million other things.”
Why First Dunes:
“The people here work the way I like to work, with trust and respect for each other and our customers. We stand by our product and are very big on customer service. Each home and each day is different, which makes my job challenging and fun.”
Most Rewarding Part of His Job:
“Handing over the keys to homeowners and “seeing the big smiles on their faces when they go inside their new homes for the first time.”
Biggest Challenge:
“Not freezing to death in the winter.”
Personal Stuff:
“Has a son and two granddaughters who have him wrapped around their fingers. Loves fly fishing at his favorite spots in Connecticut and Canada. Also spends time “busting chops” with his Italian friends. “My personality is pretty cut and dried. What you see is what you get.”
Arnold Torres
Assistant Construction Manager
Arnold’s been with First Dunes since joining the company as a handyman in 2003, four years after he arrived in this country from El Salvador.
A Typical Workday:
“Doing whatever Joe tells me to do.”
Why First Dunes:
“This was my first job ever and I love construction. And all the people here treat me so well.”
Most Rewarding Part of His Job:
“Learning everything he can about construction. “One day I’d like to be a super like Joe.”
Personal Stuff:
“Lives with his mother in Queens and is active with a Catholic church group. Enjoys soccer and hunting. “I like to help, to be there when people need me. That’s who I am.”